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[-Continuation-]
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[-Third Person View-]
"I meant what I said. You looked... cute. Just a bit."
Hachiman added the last one so that she wouldn't think her anger completely didn't work on him.
However, to his surprise -
"...Only a little?" Yukinoshita pointed out.
Had Yukino always been this ….demanding?
"..." Hachiman blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by her subtle yet insistent pursuit of more praise.
"I mean. A lot!" He backpedaled swiftly, realizing his misstep. "Like, my girlfriend is the most adorable being in the entire universe."
Yukino's gaze shifted, and though her face remained composed, there was no mistaking the subtle flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. That tiny sparkle betrayed her, revealing that she had gotten what she wanted.
She let out a small, almost imperceptible 'hum' of approval, but this time, her cheeks were tinged with the faintest hint of pink.
The satisfaction in her demeanor was laced with just a touch of embarrassment.
"Just a sec."
Hachiman announced abruptly, veering off towards a nearby convenience store.
??He left Yukino standing there, a brief flicker of confusion crossing her face, but she said nothing.
In less than a minute, he returned, clutching a familiar can of Max Coffee in one hand and something else in the other.
Without fanfare, he handed her a Strawberry Mix, its bright pink color stood out against the dim evening light.
Yukino accepted it without protest, but her next action caught Hachiman entirely off guard.
Without warning, she threaded her arm through his, gripping it with a gentle yet unyielding firmness - as if to ensure he wouldn't vanish into thin air.
"Why do you always disappear without warning?" She inquired, her tone laced with a complex mixture of irritation and something deeper beneath the surface.
Maybe it wasn't just related to him walking away, or his momentary absence.
Maybe it was an underlying fear, a worry that he might slip away, even if only for the briefest of moments.
Hachiman blinked, the warmth of her arm wrapped around his, sending a rush of heat to his face.
"My bad." He mumbled, aiming for nonchalance but missing by a mile.
He raised the can of Max Coffee, giving it a casual shake. "After all that mental thinking, my throat and brain were craving something strong."
"..." Yukino's gaze flicked to the can. A flicker of distaste crossed her features, but she held her tongue.
Instead, she sighed, her grip on his arm tightening almost imperceptibly - a silent reminder that she had no intention of letting him wander off again, even for something as trivial as a caffeine fix.
The soft squeeze wasn't lost on Hachiman.
He chuckled lightly, trying to ease the tension. "Didn't think you would miss me that much."
Yukino rolled her eyes, but her expression softened, her irritation giving way to something gentler.
"It's not that." She muttered, but the faint blush dusting her cheeks told a different story.
A playful lilt returned to Hachiman's voice. "Sure, sure. Next time, I will give you a five-minute warning before my coffee quests. Maybe a written notice just to be thorough."
Yukino shot him a withering look.
"You are utterly impossible." She declared, her tone caught between exasperation and fondness.
He shrugged, taking a sip from the can. "Well, I can't function without this stuff."
"I suppose it can't be helped." Yukino glanced down at the can in her hand and murmured, almost to herself.
And then, without warning, she asked a question so absurd, it made him stumble mentally.
"Hachiman." She began suddenly, her voice serious, but with an unmistakable edge of mischief. "If you had to choose between, what would it be - Me or Max Coffee?"
?!His brain short-circuited for a second.
Hachiman nearly choked on his drink, barely managing to gulp it down at the last minute.
"I... what?" He sputtered, desperately trying to regain his composure.
"You heard me. Who do you prefer?" Yukino's gaze locked onto him, her tone deceptively innocent, but there was no mistaking the challenge in her eyes.
Max Coffee? Really?
His elixir of life versus... His beloved Yukino?
He was overwhelmed by the sheer pressure of the comparison, like a trap designed specifically to test his survival skills in this relationship.
"Well, obviously, it's M-!" He began, only to snap his mouth shut as alarm bells clanged in his head.
One look at Yukino's narrowed eyes told him he was treading on dangerous ground.
…gulp, I nearly let my 'true' feelings slip.
"There's really no comparison." He backpedaled, scrambling for safer footing.
Man. Is this how women's brains work?
How had the conversation even gotten here? One moment, they were talking, and the next, she was dissecting his comment like it was some existential debate.
Why on earth was she pitting herself against an inanimate beverage?
His gaze darted briefly toward the can of coffee in his hand. Could this tiny thing really be the source of Yukino's sudden shift in mood?
…Is she getting jealous over a coffee can?
"One is... well, it's a necessity for basic function, and the other is… you know, the only thing that makes life worth living."
Yukino's eyebrow arched elegantly, skepticism etched into every line of her face at his clumsy attempt of diplomatic evasion.
"So, you are implying that Max Coffee is your daily necessity, while I serve as your reason for living. Is that the gist of your argument?" She prodded, her tone laced with mock severity.
"Uh, yeah, something like that." He replied, aiming for confidence but landing squarely in the realm of flustered. "But you see, it's not even a contest. Coffee's just... a beverage, while you are, um... you are you."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Hachiman wanted to cringe.
You are you? Really?
That's the best declaration of affection I could come up with?
Yukino's lips twitched, her usual composure slipping just enough to reveal a hint of a smile. "That's... a surprisingly decent answer."
Hachiman exhaled slowly, feeling as though he'd just navigated a minefield blindfolded. "Glad you think so."
Once we were out of earshot, she turned to me. "So, about the date..."
Hachiman met her gaze, as a hint of her usual fire returning to her eyes. "Do you really want to go back there, Yukino?"
She paused, taking in his words, then shook her head. "Not particularly, no."
Hachiman didn't let the chance slip. "Then I suggest we make good on our fabricated date to its full extent."
Yukino's lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes twinkling like stars in the twilight.
"I would like that." She whispered.
They didn't say much more as they walked toward the nearest bus stop.
A cool breeze brushed past them, but Yukino stayed close, her hand lightly gripping his.
With that, they both boarded a bus heading in the direction of Yukino's apartment. The ride was quiet, the dim light of the evening casting soft shadows over the bus interior.
They found a seat near the back, side by side.
Yukino's hand remained loosely wrapped around Hachiman's, her fingers now slightly intertwined with his.
She settled into the window seat, and as the bus began to move, she leaned her head gently on his shoulder, shifting closer, her warmth radiating through the shared contact.
Hachiman's gaze drifted to the passing scenery as his mind wandered. The familiar storefronts and street signs triggered a memory.
Isn't this the route my parents take to work? It's well past office hours now. Maybe I should pick up some snacks...
However, he remembered a few unspoken things about his life that nagged at him back.
Deciding it was best to say it himself rather than hearing from another party, just like now, he glanced down at Yukino.
"There's something I have been meaning to tell you." He said quietly, careful not to disturb the peacefulness of the moment.
?..?Yukino stirred slightly, with her head still cushioned on his shoulder. "Hmm?" Her voice was a gentle hum of curiosity.
He hesitated for a second, then sighed. "You know the game [Candy Crush]?"
Her brow furrowed slightly as she thought for a moment. "...Yes. Haruno introduced it to me. It was a couple of months ago. She was quite persistent on the particular occasion, even for her. So, what about it?"
"I… uh, I kind of des–!"
His confession was abruptly halted as a face suddenly popped up over his right shoulder.
Oddly, the intrusion didn't startle him as much as it should have.
The unsettling familiarity of those features made him choke on the words.
"..." Yukino, inwardly grumpy, lifted her head, blinked in rapid succession, her eyes full of confusion, like a startled fawn. Her mind visibly whirred, trying to make sense of this unexpected intrusion of a man wearing a formal suit.
What the-!? Hachiman's internal monologue sputtered, but he barely had time to process his own confusion.
"Son? Is this you?"
His stomach plummeted as recognition dawned. For the love of all that's holy, give me a break, you sadistic god(:author)!
For a heartbeat, Hachiman's mind short-circuited. Of all the seven billion people on this overcrowded planet, at this precise moment…
He turned to face the interloper, and the sight only confirmed his worst fears. The face before him was as familiar as his own reflection, though he would never admit it.
I know they say it's a small world, but this is taking it to ridiculous extremes.
He recalled, with bitter irony, his offhand joke about how encountering his dad with Yukino would be less nightmarish than running into her parents.
But that had been a jest - a throwaway line never meant to materialize in this cruel reality.
?!!Beside him, Yukino finally straightened, her cool demeanor slipping as she tried to process the situation.
Her hand, which had rested gently on his arm, now clutched his sleeve with an almost instinctual tightness, like she was trying to steady herself.
Her face, typically a masterclass in stoicism, now displayed a mixture of emotions - shock, embarrassment, and... was that a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes?
It was as if she was silently challenging him - It's now your turn, Mr. Boyfriend.
Hachiman couldn't help but continue his mental tirade. You gods(:author) really love messing with me, don't you? …If you are so keen on making my wishes come true, there were plenty of others you could have picked. But no, you had to pick this one.
Hachiman sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
He heaved a sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
His gaze dropped to the floor, half-hoping it might open up and swallow him whole.
Why is it that the 'comedy' in my so-called romantic comedy is always the dominant part? At this point, my life feels like nothing more than a sitcom for the amusement of some higher-beings(:readers) with a twisted sense of humor.
"Dad?" Hachiman managed to croak out, acutely aware of Yukino's presence beside him and the curious glances from nearby passengers.
"..." Yukino blinked rapidly, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks, painting them a delicate pink. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Nearby passengers turned their heads, their curiosity ignited by the sudden familial reunion.
Hachiman felt the heat of their gazes, but ignored it, bracing himself for the ridiculousness to come.
Of course, Hachiman thought grimly, the universe can't let me have one peaceful moment. That would be far too kind.
….
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[To be continued…]
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